Device for preventing the shrinkage of dresses after being cleaned



Nov. 26, 1929. s. e. sAHAGmN DEVICE FOR PREVENTING THE SHRINKAGE 0F DRESSES AFTER BEING CLEANED Filed April 50, 1928 aiuzi (iblzha ian,

Patented Na. 26;"1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAHAG G. SAHAGIAN, OF POCAHONTAS, VIRGINIA DEVICE FOR PREVENTING THE SHRINKAGE OF DRESSES AFTER BEING CLEANED Application filed April 30,

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in inflatable bags on which dresses or waists are to be dried after being washed or cleaned.

As is well known, when thin dresses are sent to the cleaners to be washed or otherwise cleaned, they have a tendency to shrink while they are drying, which often means that the dress cannot be thereafter worn, although the dress, with the exception of having shrunk, is in perfect condition.

An object, therefore, of my invention is to provide a form of rubber bag, which, when collapsed or deflated, is very thin, so that it will not occupy much space, but which may be placed in a dress, inflated when desired to the proper dimensions to thus prevent the dress from shrinking. In other words, the bust measurement and the waist measurement of the dress will be taken before washing, and while the dress is still wet, it will be placed over the deflated bag and the bag the inflated until the waist is again the p per measurement, after which the dress is allowed to dry on the bag and thus be prevented from shrinking about the waist and bust.

About the bottom of the dress, there is to be used, a metal expansible ring, also expanded to the proper size and on which ring there will be supported a number of relatively light weights, so that the skirt portion will not shrink in length nor will it shrink in width due to the ring in the bottom. Still another object of the invention, is to provide the thin inflatable bag with a relatively thick rubber portion, substantially across the shoulders, so that the same will allow the dress to properly hang and in which may be placed a hookto suspend the bag. In other words, the upper portion of the bag acts like a coat-hanger over which the dress is to be extended, and the rest of the bag including the arms will be inflated after the dress is placed in position, so that when the dress is returned to the customer, it will be the same size it was before it was cleaned.

Still another object of the invention is to make these inflatable he s of a relatively thin sheet of rubber an have these bags to formed to shape so that they will expand 1928. Serial No. 274,000.

evenly when inflated so that the dress, when drying, will practically dry on a shape similar to the human body, and of the desired measurement.

Still another object of the invention is to form the upper portion in the form of a hanger so that it may be hung up on the usual rods and thus take up but little room.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in certain new and novel arrangements and combination of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out inthe claims.

Referring now to the drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 shows the suspended form with a one-piece dress thereon, with the expansible ring in the bottom and the bag in its inflated condition.

Fig. 2 is a front View of the dress form, a 70 part being broken away to show the stiff rubber neck and shoulders.

Fig. 3 is a side View representing the bag in its inflated condition.

Fig. 4c is a detail of the expansible ring.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View of the ring with a.weight thereon.

Fig. 6 shows a cross section of the band with the clothes pin gripped thereon and a small weight attached.

Referring now more particularl to Figs. 2 and 3, there will be seen the rub er bag 1, which conforms in shape to the human body and is provided with integral rubber arms 2, while in the lower end of one of the arms is 85 secured the small valve 3.

The upper portion of the bag is provided with a stifl rubber portion 4 in which there will be partly embedded the head of a book 5, which hook passes through the rubber bag 90 and may have a small cord 6 attached thereto to support the bag, or the hook 5 may be passe over a rod.

It will be noticed that the bag curves in to form the waist line 7 and then widens again at at 8, conforming in shape to the hips of the human body.

It will be understood that I have not shown any view of the bag in its deflated condition, but it will be understood that it will be prao- L00 ticallv flat like any ordinary rubber bag or bladder.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a fragmentary 0rtion of a ring 9 designed to be expande as have provided a relatively cheap and eflicient the one end 10 will be so formed that the other end 11 may slide therein, while a small set-screw 12 will retain the ring in its desired dimension.

This ring is to be secured in the bottom of the dress 13, and small wei hts 14, which in turn are supported by clot es pins 15, will be secured to the ring.

As formerly mentioned, while the dress 13 is still wet after the cleanin it will be slipped over the shoulders of the ag, when the bag is in its deflated condition and the rubber arms 2 will be placed in the sleeves of the dress. If the waist measure of the dress is, say 36, the bag will then be inflated until it measures 36, and the small ring will be placed in the bottom of the skirt and the dress allowed to dry on the form. I

When the dress is fully dried, the bag will be deflated and the dress removed from the ha and the ring removed from the bottom.

n this way, the dress is prevented from shrinkin throu hout its length and width.

It wil be understood that waists may be dried on the ha and a twoiece dress may likewise to drie as the sprea 'ng hips of the bag will su port the skirt, or if necessary the skirt may pinned to the waist, or a cloth band placed around the form to which the skirt may be pinned.

It will be seen that the dress will hang well when on the form due to the stifi rubber upper portion, and the remainder of the bag, when inflated, will keep the dress in proper sh? while drying.

y providing a hook in this upper ortion, a large number of these bags may e kept on hand for'use, when deflated, and take up but little room.

I am aware that it is old to provide pneumatic forms in which dresses are to be fitted or made, and which are collapsible, but these are generally not made as a thin rubber bag, nor are they rovided with inte a1 arm pieces, nor do t ey have the stiff ru ber neck portion so that the dress may be hung thereon like an-ordinary hanger.

It will be understood that these bags are to be made in different sizes as they should not be inflated beyond a certain limit, otherwise thebag will not inflate proportionately but ma become irregular in shape.

ne size bag will do for three or four sizes of dresses, but one size bag, say a 36, could not be expanded beyond, say a 40 or 42.

It will also be understood that the bag will be full in front so that the bust portion will expand normall when inflated, rather than ]\1St bul 0 out o shape, as it would if it were cut on t e same lines as the back.

- These bags may be rolled up when not in use and easily packed for shi ment together with an expansible ring an the relatively small wei hts.

From .t e foregoin it will be seen that I means for preventing the shrinking of dresses as they are dried, and which means occupies but little room when not in use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A device for preventing the shrinkin of dresses and the like after being cleane comprising an inflatable bag, said bag conforming in shape to the upper part of the human body, a relatively stifi portion set within the upper extremity of the bag for retaining the shape of the upper portion of the bag, means for sus endin the bag, and

said bag adapted to be lnflate to the desired 7 ortion conforming Y measurement, said still in sha e to that of a dres anger.

2. inflatable bag cut to conform to the sha e of the upper 'part'of the human body, said bag provided with means for admitting air thereto to expand said bag, said be made of relatively soft rubber and a re atively thick portion of rubber in the upper part of the bag which will retain its shape even when the bag is deflated, the thick portion conforming to the shape of the human shoulders, and supporting means secured within the neck of the ag 3. A form on which dresses are to be dried to prevent their shrinking comprising a rubber bag having integral arms, a widened bust portion and widened hip portions, means in" the upper end of the bag which .will retain its shape when said bag is deflated, means at the upper end of the bag for suspending the same, the suspending means being secured in the means for retaimng the shape of the bag, said bag capable of expanding to conform to the natural shape of the upper portion of the body, to prevent shrinkage of the dress drying thereon.

4. An inflatable bag provided with integral arms, said bag conforming in shape to the hips, waist line, bust and neck of the human body, a relatively stifi material in the neck and shoulders of the bag to support a dress, a suspending means in the relatively still material, said bag capable of inflation to a de-.

sired measurement, and adapted to prevent the shrinking of a dress while on said bag.

5. A device for preventing the shrinkage of dresses comprising aninflatable bag, said bag conforming in shape to the upperpart of the human body, a relatively stiff material within the upper edge of the bag and extending how shoulder to shoulder, means within the neck portion of the bag for suspending the same, and an expansible ring adapted to be placed in the lower portion of the dress whereby the dress will be prevented from shrinking in length and width.

6. A device for preventing the shrinkage of dresses comprising an inflatable bag, said bag conforming in shape to the upper part of the human body, a relatively stifl' material within the upper edge of the bag and extending from shoulder to shoulder, means within the neck portion of the bag for suspending the same, an expansible ring adapted to be placed in the lower portion of the dress whereby the dress will be prevented from shrinking in length and in width, and weights supported by the ring. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

SAHAG G. SAHAGIAN. 

